Automobile door handle assembly



April 27;, 1943. F. A. COOLEY AUTOMOBILE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY FiledMarch 13, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORQ 7 7 Z 6? (60/6 April 27, 1943.CQQLEY 2,317,672

AUTOMOBILE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY Filed March 13, 1942 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. ffoyd 6 @a/qy April 27, 1943. F. A. COOLEY AUTOMOBILE DOORHANDLE ASSEMBLY Filed March 13, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Ffqyi 1Q07e51 MO! wrneqs.

Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE DOORHANDLE ASSEMBLY Floyd A. Cooley, Detroit, Mich, assignor to TernstedtManufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of MichiganApplication March 13, 1942,Serial-No. 434,571

7 Glaims.

This invention relates to handle assemblies.

It is the object of the invention toprovide a handle assembly which canbe made of a screw machine product and suitable stamped metal parts ormay be made of headed wire which forms the spindle and the core of thehandle and sheet metal stampings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the handle showing the handlespindle in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the handle.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the handle showing the handle spindle andthe core of the handle" in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of handle butinvolving the same general principle.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of this handle taken along the axis of thehandle spindlean'd' showing the handle spindle and core in elevation.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line li -'3 of Fig. 4-.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the outer handl'eshell.

Fig. 8is a longitudinalsection of another modifled form.

Fig. 9 is a similar section" of still another form.

Referring to Fig. 1, I designates the outer door panel, 2 theoverlapfiange and 3 the jamb face of the door. 4 shows the belt molding.

The handle spindle and handle stem are formed of a piece of wire Stockor a screw machine product that is properly headed. 5 designates thehandle spindle which has an enlarged bearing portion 6 and an annularflange l. 8 designates a handle stem which is butt welded at 9 to theend of the handle spindle. A cap piece H3 is provided with a boss H andthis boss may be projection-welded to the annular flange 1 of the handlespindle. The handle stem 8 may be bent to shape either before or afterit is welded to the end of the handle spindle.

The outer shell I2 is a stamping that is folded to the shape shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3. This is a substantially closed channel, the edges l3and I4 coming close to meeting on the under side of the handle. Afterthe cap piece in has been projection-welded to the flange I and thehandle stem has been welded to the spindle and bent to the propercurvature, the outer shell, which has been folded to the shape shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, is telescoped over the curved handle stem and theenlarged end of the shell telescoped over the flange of the cap piece.Thereupon, the edge l6 and the tabs l1 and I8 are folded over the edgeof the flange l5 of the cap piece. to complete the assembly.

The enlarged bearing portion 5 isfitted in a bushing [9. This bushing I9 is supportedrin a rubber sleeve The rubber sleeve 2!] is first passedthrough the belt molding and an-o'pen'ing in the inner panel I. Then thebushing I9 is passedthrough the rubber sleeve and the inner end expandedas at 2! tohold' the bushing assembl-y in place. V

In the modified form show-n in Figs. 4-7, the handle stem and the handlespindle are one con tinuous integral piece made from headed wire stockor turned on; a screw machine. The handle shell is made, however, thesame way and has the same tabs H- and [-8 which arecrimped-over theedgeof the flange ofthe cap piece to assemble the partstogether when thehandle shell is telescoped over the handle stem. The cappiece is spotwelded as at 22 to the annular flange l. The handle stem, where itmerges'int'o the handle spindle, isnotched out asat 23 to provide aweakened portion so that in case the handle is forced by a tool, such asa pipe, the handlewill break rather than the lock parts. This is toprevent some unauthorized person forcing his way.

into the car whe'nit is parked.

In the type of handle Shown in Figs. 1 to 3inclusive an annular groove24 is provided at one side of the flange l to provide a weakened portionwhere the handle spindle will break when forced. If the handle has beenforced and broken, one may get into the car by taking a pair of pliersand grasping the head 6 and turn ing the spindle.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 the same generalform of the invention is shown, but here the enlarged bearing portion 6is omitted and the bearing is formed by a punched-out sleeve portion 25punched out of the cap piece. A weakened portion 24a is formed by agroove in the handle spindle 5a.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 9 the cap piece has aturned-in flange |5b instead of the turned-out flange l5 shown in theother figures. out sleeve portion 25b the same as in Fig. 8.

What I claim is:

1. A handle assembly, particularly for outside handles for automobiledoors, comprising a rodlike handle spindle and stem with an enlargedbearing portion adapted to fit into a bushing or escutcheon in the doorand having also an enlarged annular flange, the said handle stem beingarranged in angular relation with respect to The bearing is formed by apunched the handle spindle, a flanged cap piece welded to said flangeand a stamped and a folded metal shell of a substantially closed channelcross-section having an enlarged open inner end, said shell beingtelescoped over the handle stem and the flange of the cap piece and theinner end portion of the shell secured to the flange of the cap piece.

2. A handle assembly, particularly for outside handles for automobiledoors, comprising a rodlike handle spindle and stem with an enlargedbearing portion adapted to fit into a bushing or escutcheon in the doorand having also an enlarged annular flange, the said handle stem beingarranged in angular relation with respect to the handle spindle, a cappiece provided with a turned-over flange and welded to the said flangeand a stamped and folded metal shell of'a substantially closed channelcross-section having an enlarged open inner end, said shell beingtelescoped over the handle stem and the inner end portion of the shellprovided with'projecting tabs which are crimped over the edge of theturnedover flange of the cap piece.

3. A handle assembly, particularly for outside handles for automobiledoors, comprising a rodlike handle spindle and stem with an enlargedbearing portion adapted to fit into a bushing or escutcheon in the doorand having also an enlarged annular flange, the said handle stem beingarranged in angular relation with respect to the handle spindle, aflanged cap piece provided with a boss projection-welded to said flangeand a stamped and folded metal shell of a substantially closed channelcross-section having an enlarged open inner end, said shell beingtelescoped over the handle stem and the inner end portion of the shellwelded to the flange of the cap piece.

4. A handle assembly, particularly for outside handles for automobiledoors, comprising a rodlike handle spindle and stem butt welded togetherwith an enlarged bearing portionadapted to fit into a bushing orescutcheon in the door and having also an enlarged annular flange, thesaidhandle stem being arranged in angular relation with respect to thehandle spindle, a cap piece welded to saidflange and a stamped andfolded metal shell of a substantially closed channel cross-sectionhaving an enlarged open inner end, said shell being teleseoped over thehandle stem and the inner end portion of the shell se cured to the cappiece.

5. A handle assembly, particularly for outside handles for automobiledoors, comprising a rodlike handle spindle and stem with an interveningweakened or notched portion and with an enlarged bearing portion adaptedto fit into a bushing or escutcheon in the door and having also anenlarged annular flange, the said handle stem being arranged in angularrelation with respect to the handle spindle, a cap piece welded to saidflange and a stamped and folded metal shell of a substantially closedchannel cross-section having an enlarged open inner end, said shellbeing telescoped over the handle stem and the inner end portion of theshell telescoped over and secured to the cap piece.

6. A handle assembly, particularly foroutside handles for automobiledoors, comprising a rodlike handle spindle and a stem adapted to passthrough a bushing or escutcheon in the door and having an annularflange, said handle stem being arranged in angular relation with respectto the handle spindle, a cap piece welded to said flange and a stampedand folded metal shell of substantially closed channel cross-sectionhaving an enlarged open end, said shell being telescoped over the handlestem and the inner end portion of the shell secured to the cap piece.

7. A handle assembly, particularly for outside handles for automobiledoors, comprising a rod-like handle spindle and stem arranged to passthrough a bushing or escutcheon in the door and having an annularflange, the said handle stem being arranged in angular relation withrespect to the handle spindle, a cap piece welded to said flange andprovided with a punched-out sleeve fitting around the handle spindle andarranged to form a bearing to fit in the bushing or escutcheon and afolded metal shell of substantially closed channel cross-section havingan enlarged open inner end, said shell being telescoped over the handlestem and the inner end portion of the shell secured to the cap piece.

FLOYD A. COOLEY.

